Package



March 29, 1966 CARAMANIAN 3,243,038 I PACKAGE 7 Filed Feb. 19, 1965 United States Patent 3,243,038 PACKAGE John Ara Caramanian, 90-56 Long Lane, Cincinnati 31, Dido Filed Feb. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 433,930 4 Claims. (Cl. 20647) The present invention relates to a package and, more particularly, a package for material of the type using at least two compounds that'are reactive when they are mixed.

Many products are available today wherein it is desirable to package for sale two or more different compounds as a single unit. Some of these involve compounds which are reactive when they are mixed together necessitating the compounds being separated until they are used. Typically, these might comprise adhesives, bonding compounds, fillers, or sealers or similar materials. Many of the compounds are subject to product deterioration by leakage of the containers and by reaction with the air and the moisture therein. Typically, one which has provided some problems in the packaging has been the epoxy adhesive type of product. Many of the epoxies are hygroscopic in that they pick up moisture from the atmosphere. This tends to make them become sli htly stiff, difficult to handle, and therefore not nearly as usable or attractive and saleable as desired. In order to keep the product attractive pricewise, the packaging container has been of cardboard or the like with a partition separating the epoxy from the hardener. Formerly, it was also common to pack the compounds in separate plastic bags which presented problems by tearing and sticking to the compounds. In addition, the plastic bags are subject to osmosis wherein the fluid in the compounds tends to escape from the compound. Further, in the particular product under discussion, there occurred reactions between the container liner and the compounds which caused discoloration of the compound as well as the other undesirable features mentioned.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a package for material of the type using at least two compounds that are reactive when they are mixed and which package avoids the leakage and product deterioration problems from accessibility of air and moisture to the compounds.

An additional object is to provide such a package wherein the shelf life of the compounds is prolonged, and where the package generally presents a more acceptable item to the public.

A further object is to provide a package wherein the product is easily accessible and is kept substantially in its original condition indefinitely.

Another object is to provide a package having containers therein to protect and contain the compounds and keep them free of air, moisture, and which is non-reactive with the compounds.

Still another object is to provide a package that employs containers therein which are standard commercifl items and therefore inexpensive.

A further object is to provide a package for such compounds which maintains the compounds in separate containers within a larger container and sealed in substantially contacting relation by making use of the necessary literature to provide a snug and rattle-free and tight package.

Briefly stated, in accordance with my invention, I pro- Vide a package for material of the type which uses at least two compounds that are reactive when mixed and which comprises a continuous tubular member such as a cylinder which has one end closed. The tubular member is provided with a removeable lid for the other open end and the lid is dished to nest within the open end to Patented Mar. 29, 1966 ice seal the tube, the dished relation providing for a tray that may be used for mixing the compounds. There are provided at least two tubular continuous containers of similar construction that contain the separate compounds. In the cylindrical form, the two containers for the sep arate compounds may be of identical construction and of smaller tubular cross sections to fit concentrically in and fill the outer tubular member. The inner containers have standard covers thereon so that the cover of one container locks in the bottom of the adjacent container when they are in stacked relation to prevent transverse movement. Finally, the lid of the tubular member is formed to nest Within the open end of the tubular member and substantially contact the top of the stacked containers, either separately or through the directional or advertising literature, when the lid is in the sealing position so that it holds the inner containers in a rattlefree position within the tubular member.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the package showing the tubular member and the inner containers in phantom within the outer member,

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of the elements of the package of the invention.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, there is shown a perspective view of the package of the instant invention. It should be apparent that the package to be described is applicable to a number of included containers wherein more than one compound is desired to be packaged and wherein the compounds are reactive when mixed and must therefore normally be separated. However, for convenience the package will be described as it might be applied to an adhesive of the epoxy type containing two compounds including an epoxy and a hardener. This is for convenience and illustration only, and the package is not so limited to such a particular application.

In order to provide a package that is suitable to hold the two reactive compounds separate from one another, there is provided a tubular member ltl that may be conveniently formed from a standard size tube and preferably is cylindrical as shown. However, it is not limited to this shape but is merely a convenient execution thereof. Conveniently, the member may be of sheet metal construction and formed of standard available can-type material. The member may also be formed of other materials such as cardboard or plastic that are non-reactive with the compounds to be stored. For purposes of the invention it will be convenient to describe the member as a sheet metal can. A suitable standard commercial size is selected and the tubular member 10 is closed at one end by a standard end closure 11 which may be sealed to member 10 in a conventional fashion. In order to close the other open end of tubular member 10 there is provided a removable lid 12 which is dished, as at 13, so that it forms a tray-like member and telescopes or nests within the open end to seal the tubular member. The dished portion 13 forms a tray for mixing for reactive compounds as will be apparent.

In order to seal the open end of the tubular member, conveniently the removeable lid 12 may be formed with substantially cylindrical sides 14 as best seen in FIGURE 2 and is equipped with flange 15 to overlap the end of tubular member 10 to form a pressed fit within the member to the limit of flange 15. The lid may be a standard available sealing member that may be made of a suitable 35 size or depth depending on the depth desired for mixing the compounds.

For purposes of storing the compounds separately, since they are reactive when they are mixed, there are provided at least two tubular continuous containers 16 and 17 containing compounds such as an epoxy 13 and a hardener 19. As shown in FIGURE 2, the tubular containers 16 and 17 are of smaller cross section to fit concentrically within and substantially fill the tubular member 10. Conveniently again, containers 16 and 17 may be partially sheet metal cans or may be all sheet metal depending on the availability and cost of the material necessary. The containers are lined to provide a non-reactive surface with the contained compounds. For convenience and inexpensive construction, containers 16 and 17 are of similar construction in that they take standard commercially available lids 29 and 21 and, in the case of the illustration being used, are conveniently of identical size so that they may be used for either the epoxy 18 or the hardener 19 as desired. In this manner, larger quantities are available by the use of identical containers and the packaging cost is maintained at a minimum.

In order to maintain the containers within the tubular member in a snug manner, the standard lids 20 and 21 and container bottoms 22 and 23 are so formed that, as shown in FIGURE 2, the smaller container cans lock against transverse movement when stacked as shown. In other words, lid 21 nests in bottom 22 to hold containers 16 and 17 against transverse movement. Since the containers are slightly smaller than the tubular member 19, a small clearance 24 may be allowed to contain advertising material or additional informational media.

To complete the snug fitting and acceptable package for the plural compounds, the tubular member lid .12 is dished as previously described, so that it substantially contacts the top, such as lid 20, of the stacked containers when it is in the sealing or closed position on the tubular member 10. The term substantially contacting is intended to include the arrangement wherein the bottom of lid 12 is used to provide a wall against which lid 20 may bear either directly or through the medium of a folded piece of literature 25 or the like. Conveniently, literature 25 may take many forms such as a sponge, cleaning cloth, or the like, and it is a filler material which completes the filling of the member 20 to prevent rattling of the containers 16 and 17 therein by hearing against the bottom of lid 12. As previously explained, lid 12 provides a convenient mixing tray for the compounds 18 and 19 or additional compounds if more than two containers are used.

From the above, it will be seen that the package of the instant invention utilizes conveniently available commercial products and therefore the costs may be kept to a minimum. The lined and at least partial sheet metal construction, provides intermediate shelf life and as a whole a convenient saleable package that is attractive to the customer and has all the materials available in one package as Well as the mixing tray necessary for use. The package is compact and a suitable label 26 may be supplied to carry the product identification and instructions,

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that come Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A package for material of the type using at least two compounds that are reactive when mixed comprising,

a tubular member having one end closed,

a removable lid for the other open end,

said lid being dished to nest within said open end to seal said member,

at least two continuous tubular containers of similar construction containing said compounds separately,

said containers being of smaller tubular cross section to fit concentrically within and substantially fill the tubular member,

said containers having covers thereon formed so the cover of one container locks in the bottom of the adjacent container in stacked relation,

said member lid substantially contacting the top of said stacked containers when in sealing position on the tubular member.

2. A package of the type described in claim 1 wherein said member and containers are cylindrical, at least partially sheet metal cans,

said removable lid having substantially cylindrical sides and a flange thereon to overlap the end of said member,

said lid forming a press fit within the member to the limit of said flange.

3. A package as described in claim 2 wherein the member is substantially sheet metal and said containers are lined,

the length of said lid sides being substantially equal to the member height minus the total height of the stacked containers to substantially contact said containers within said member when in closed position.

4. A package for an adhesive of the type using an epoxy and a hardener that are non-reactive when separated comprising,

a single sheet metal cylindrical can having a sealed end,

a tray-like lid of dished form telescoping Within said other end,

a pair of identical smaller at least partial sheet metal continuous cylindrical and lined cans having lids thereon and disposed in stacked relation snugly within said single container,

said smaller cans being formed to lock top to bottom against transverse movement when stacked, and

said tray lid substantially contacting with said stacked smaller cans within the single can when closed on the single can.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,395,301 11/ 1921 Sechrist 22997 2,080,283 5/1937 Lowenfels.

2,164,505 7/1939 Edwards 20665 2,298,814 10/ 1942 Weis.

2,405,764 8/1946 Smith 2064 2,623,633 12/1952 Bladow 20665 FOREIGN PATENTS 747,513 3/1933 France.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PACKAGE FOR MATERIAL OF THE TYPE USING AT LEAST TWO COMPOUNDS THAT ARE REACTIVE WHEN MIXED COMPRISING, A TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING ONE END CLOSED, A REMOVABLE LID FOR THE OTHER OPEN END, SAID LID BEING DISHED TO NEST WITHIN SAID OPEN END TO SEAL SAID MEMBER, AT LEAST TWO CONTINUOUS TUBULAR CONTAINERS OF SIMILAR CONSTRUCTION CONTAINING SAID COMPOUNDS SEPARATELY, SAID CONTAINERS BEING OF SMALLER TUBULAR CROSS SECTION TO FIT CONCENTRICALLY WITHIN AND SUBSTANTIALLY FILL THE TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID CONTAINERS HAVING COVERS THEREON FORMED SO THE COVER OF ONE CONTAINER LOCKS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ADJACENT CONTAINER IN STACKED RELATION, SAID MEMBER LID SUBSTANTIALLY CONTACTING THE TOP OF SAID STACKED CONTAINERS WHEN IN SEALING POSITION ON THE TUBULAR MEMBER. 